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YSR’s son-in-law in cash row

HYDERABAD: Chief Electoral Officer I. V. Subba Rao has asked election officials in Karimnagar district to get further details of the incident in which three pastors, including Anil Kumar, son-in-law of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, were found in possession of Rs. 10.40 lakh in cash at a lodge in Karimnagar.

He told reporters here on Tuesday that action would be taken against them unless they clearly explained the purpose for which they had kept the cash with them. Earlier, the Telugu Desam Party submitted a complaint to the CEO that Mr. Anil Kumar, an evangelist, had been using religious forum for soliciting votes in favour of the Congress party.

The party said Mr. Anil Kumar was conducting Christian religious meetings and distributing pamphlets entitled ‘Prayer for Elections’. The pamphlets claimed that it was due to similar prayers in the last elections that God had elected the last government.

Karimnagar Staff Reporter adds: The BJP and local pastors clashed on Monday over the recovery of Rs. 10.40 lakh cash by the police from the possession of the pastors who had come here to participate in a meeting.

Distribution to voters

Led by local corporator Bandi Sanjay, they alleged that the cash was brought by Mr. Anil Kumar for distribution to voters. Mr. Anil Kumar had arrived in the town earlier in a helicopter and gone to a hotel room where other pastors were staying since the last two days. On the BJP’s complaint, police raided the hotel and seized the cash.

Later, more BJP leaders arrived and raised slogans against the pastors and the Chief Minister. The pastors also came out of their rooms and argued with them. The police then arrived there in large numbers, dispersed the mob and took the BJP leaders into custody. They were, however, released later.

Cash returned

When contacted, Karimnagar CI Ganpath Jadhav told The Hindu that, on inquiry, it was found that the amount recovered was meant for religious purposes and in no way concerned with the elections. He said that they had not registered any case and handed over the cash to the pastors.